For 50 years, Vision Maker Media (visionmakermedia.org) has been bringing Indigenous stories to audiences. To celebrate, the 2026 Film Festival, “Everything is Connected,” is a year-long event highlighting heritage, identity and community through the documentaries, narrative films and shorts VMM has produced and funded. The festival is a combination of in person and online offerings.
On July 13, “Without Arrows” will be showcased at The Ross Theater. The film chronicles the vibrance and struggle of a Lakhóta family, when, after a decade away, a man returns home to carry on the legacy of his family. Following the screening, moderator Joe Rousseau will conduct a Q&A with Directors/Producers Elizabeth Day and Jonathan Olshfeski, and Delwin Fiddler, Jr., the film’s subject, a producer, and the inspiration for the story.
For free tickets, visit theross.org
In July, the VMM Festival hosts “The Bears on Pine Ridge” and “Story Pole” online. These documentaries embody the theme “Everything is Connected,” illustrating how personal resilience acts as a catalyst for collective renewal. By confronting adversity through advocacy and artistry, these narratives prove that individual healing is deeply intertwined with the well-being of the community.
Online festival at visionmakermedia.org/vision-maker-film-festival everything-is-connected-july-streaming.
Twice monthly, the iNative Shorts for Kids YouTube channel posts new episodes providing insight into Indigenous histories and heritages. July’s episodes cover “Reclaiming Old Ways” and “The Importance of Seeds,” showing how Traditional Ecological Knowledge has modern applications.
Watch at youtube.com/@iNativeShortsforKids